This Blog is designed to document my movements, activities and experience on my year abroad, from September 2012 until may 2013. On a gap year from the University of Sunderland, I study German and Sport science with the hope of training as an MFL teacher in the future. I hope you enjoy reading this blog, especially if you plan to do a gap year on the Language Assistant Scheme with the British council in Hessen, Germany
To say that it has been a long time since I have posted on here may be an understatement! its been a hell of a final year at uni and im pretty pleased to be able to say that it is now all over!
I haven't graduated yet.. (after reading my blog, do you really think that it would go smoothly?!) no!
I decided that a better way to spend exam week would be to be in Hospital for a few days. This meant that I missed a sports exam. I have re-taken, but Graduation is scheduled for December 2012.
I've applied and been successful for a new Job. Im now in the police force! (totally different!) and I start in November.
Im free all the way through September. Ill be dipping candles for a few weeks (im not explaining that!) but for one week, its all going on!
Im very excited to announce that 2 of my classes from when I did my year abroad are coming over to London for a week! This makes me very happy!
Its a shame that the lack of time in my life has meant that I haven' I hope they are excited as I am! im sure that some of their excitement will be that they are going on a trip, and that they are visiting a different country etc etc.. But hopefully they will be happy for a reunion!
I don't think they realise how much I miss them, I still have all of the photos and memories posted on my bedroom wall. My desktop background is a slide show of all of my pictures from Germany. It may have been a long time ago, but Schlüchtern is still my 'Happy Place'
To been able to go and see them as much as I wanted to. Instead, im becoming a massive English 3rd wheel on their trip!
and so, for one week in September, I will be getting drunk and living it up with the students who became my friends! what more could you want?
No matter which class you are in.. the last thing I said to you was "Ill be back soon, do don't do anything stupid!"
Well, I'm coming back!
Basically, those of you who know me well, will know that I am now back at Uni .. I have SUFFERED 2 German lessons.. and I have decided that Its not as good as where I was, so i have to come back to speak more German!
Well, When I decided to come back. there were 3 major issues..
1) How am I going to get there? 2) When am I going to go? 3) How many German Lectures can I avoid in one go
Well, the answers are as follows
1) KLM.. no other option really... hopefully, they will remember my bag this time
2) When?? There is only one option really.. KALTERMARKT! 3) this is only a guess, but experts seem to think about 6
I have missed germany since leaving. I have had a hell of a summer that meant that I have not had much time to miss it, but there were times when I was all up for flogging my xbox and selling my brother to go back again. though that would only make me about £100 and the xbox is worth £99. Still, It seems like every day at some point I think "what was i doing 1 year ago?" or telling someone about what I did in germany - even if they don't seem to care!
After a lot of thinking - I decided that I deserve it. I worked hard over the summer and I am desperate for a break. So this is it. Admittedly, I want to put everything else on hold until it happens, but it gives me a chance to get over and have a real break
The best part so far, is that with all of my KLM miles.. It has only cost me £86 return!!
That time has come. In 72 Hours, Ill be back in the UK.
This time, it isn't for a trip to Sunderland, its not for a Football match, or over the Christmas Holidays... This time, its more permanent that that.
I have been here, in Germany now for 9 Months, and I knew that this time would come. My God, its tough.
Thinking back, If i tried to talk to myself from 9 months ago, I would probably think I was an idiot. My German has flown along. I can remember having to describe a bowl to a woman in a shop. That was a fail. (its Schüssel, by the way!)
When I was about to leave, I didn't imagine that I would get up to much really. I was wrong, that's for sure. Just through reading my old blog posts, I can see that I have done plenty, and half the stuff isn't even there!
Its been an Adventure. I have done, seen and experienced things that some people can only dream of. I have lived in what is actually a fabulous country with people who are just as kind, friendly, funny, helpful and genuine and any other person possible could be .
Whilst being here, I have gained experience, knowledge of German, social skills, skills in other areas, laughs, cries, memories and friends.
A small town, that I had to Google not so long ago, a town with more Doctors in it than London has, a town with 2 swimming pools, 3 schools and everything else and a town that has now, whether it likes it or not become a very big part of my life.
A School, in this town, a school that thousands of people have passed through, and thousands more will pass through, of which, I am one of them has not become a place where I can go should I ever need anything, and I can be sure that someone, somewhere will be able to help me, somehow.
Though Thousands have passed, and thousands will come, I was lucky enough to pass through myself in this year. With these teachers and these students. I don't think, that if I had hand-picked the people myself, i could have chosen a better group of people.
I have laughed every single day, I have smiles every single minute, and never would I have been able to do that without the amazing people that I have sent my time with, here in Schlüchtern.
I don't think I will ever live such an amazing academic year ever again. It has been a year that I dreaded, right up until the moment that I got here, and it has been the best year of my life.
I want to thank those who have made this year so special. They can sit and be modest and say that they did nothing, but simply by being there have they made this experience totally amazing..
Though this may be a goodbye, its not goodbye forever. I will be back and It wont just be the once. There is too much here for me to only come back once.
I hope that my legacy here wont be forgotten. I hope that whatever I have done here has helped in some way, if it has changed the lives of someone for the better, and that the laughs I have shared with the people here, can be shared with those thousand, due to pass through too. I hope that I am not forgotten, because I will never forget you.
So Germany: Its time for me to go, and for you to stay. Thank you for the Adventure, now go have a new one.
Well, As Im sure that you all know by now, my time here is very close to the end. This time, im not going to be all mopey and complain about how the time has gone fast - not this time! No, this time, im going to talk about what I have been up to of late.
Ill admit, that I have my diary in front of me here. This is not one of those "dear diary..." style ones, but one that keeps me and my life in order. Without it .. the world would come caving in, and I would be curled up in a dark corner, muttering missed appointments to myself!
The last time I typed anything, was a while after Easter, but it was about Easter, So .. im going to start from there! :D
The first week back at work was hard work, because the Easter holidays were more "free time, that i filled up so much, that there was no free time anymore" So I was back after work after my "break", having not really stopped at all! My friend came over from Scotland, and I was the typical tour guide! :P
However, I have written about that, so lets ignore it!
The first week back was also a new timetable. This was because of lots of reasons, and more than one day of about 70 pissed off teachers in a staff room. Without going into too much detail though, I had to make my own.
Of course, I boobed it completely!
Here is a tip: If you are teaching in room 341 from 7:30- 8:20, you cant also be teaching in room 340 from 7:30- 8:20.. that (sad though it is) is impossible!
Still, according to my timetable, I was willing to give it a shot.
Guess what.. it didn't work! and. OF COURSE, there was no other lesson that I could move either of them to.. not one.. there are a total of 28 different lesson periods a week.. but one 1 would work... great! However, this issue has now been sorted... by someone else! :D
The second week was emotional! I got some very good news, and in the same week, some very bad news from home. This was from the same person, and It sent me into worry-mode, especially with who it was exactly. It was a week of sending "are you alright?" texts, even though I knew the answer.. (yeah, I do that... sorry!) but also a week of my brain trying to solve the worlds problems (yeah, I do that too!)
Im honest, I would not be like that if i was in the UK, where this person lives. But, being abroad, you feel a little detached from problems like this, especially when you are directly involved in some way. It can be tough to take your mind off it (especially when you live the rock and roll lifestyle that I don't) and live alone.. so if you are going abroad, make sure you know how to distract yourself..
Luckily.. i do.. it involves organizing things that do not need organizing yet, walking around really quickly to feel important (a piece of paper in your hand usually helps!) and eating German sausages....
After the emotional week, it was a week of me , once again teaching Frisbee!! :D Here is an example of harry potter, doing a hipster sport!
complete with University of Sunderland matching tracksuit..
'fashion' is my middle name...
I did about 3 double lessons overall, which made me feel like a true athlete (I even walked home afterwards!) one of which was with a 6 grade class! Luckily, their English was great, and they didn't question why I kept yelling "PANCAKE!" at them.. (its a way of catching...)
To top off this week, I went to the Opera! Sadly without the small binoculars on a stick, I saw a Wagner. It was great, even if it was a total of 4 hours long (anything on you that makes contact with a chair hurts after that time!) but i felt very cultured, which was great because I thought I needed a booster. I also forgot that it was written in OLD German, and was worried after 20 minutes that I had lot of new words to learn.. This was cleared up.. I now know the words, and the modern version too!
We have had some nice weather (yeah, im from the UK! :D ) So here is Schlüchtern in the Sun! :D
a Lake
Sunset from my flat
A Nice view of a house that isnt mine..
Looking up the hill
The School
Looking down the Hill..
There was also an impromptu visit to wiesbaden! ..
Wiesbaden is really nice, and has its own natural (and hot) spring water. This water is said to contain healing properties, but don't drink more than a liter, as it contains cyanide, among other things.. It also has its own micro-climate, making it warmer than the rest of the area. This was great, as Dortmund were playing in the football, so we could sit outside, chill and have a few bets int he sun - wonderful!
The last week has been good too, Another frisbee lesson on Monday, and a Day off on Wednesday! Friday I was up early to go and drink coffee, but also.. I had to prepare..
Some of you will know, that I have an obsession with Motorsport, particularly 4 wheels - even my twitter name is mikee_F1 .. so, when I got the chance to go and watch some, I bit the chance!!
yes, I am typing this now, still buzzing from watching the DTM at Hockenheim! :D
LOOK!!
The Welcome Sign
Out Seats
Me Standing on the In-field, after all the racing, you can walk the track!
The Lights!
Timo Glock
The Grid
The Grid Lights
The Train Station Sign
It was an awesome day. I would love to post all of the pics, but this is not a Motorsport blog, and not everyone cares about it!
So as you can tell, I have been busy, In 3 days, I fly home to go camping with Bear Grylls, and I also manage to sneak in a small leaving party too. Its all go here, which is weird, because its all go, just before the end!
Also, on a different note, I have had some really nice comments about my Blog. I thank those who have posted them! Its very much appreciated!
Have a great time! I may find time to post another soon!
Yesterday, I booked my flights home. Though this time, it was not for a trip to Sunderland to see my Mate, or a galavant to London for a Football Game. No. This time... its one way.
It was painful, pressing the 'Confirm' on the website was tough, not for financial reasons, but because pressing that 'confirm' button also confirms the end of my year abroad. At the moment, it is almost like knowing the day I will die.. i really, don't know what to do
However, over the last few weeks, we have had Easter, and the School Holidays. So I thought I would update you on all of that shabang!
The first week of the Summer Holidays, brought about some reasonably weather. It was nice to relax and have a pint on the Balcony, with some (not too nice) Strawberries and feel very spring like. I used this time to relax, as it had been a tough few weeks in the school, with exams and the dreaded TIMETABLE CHANGE! (dun dun durrrrr!!)
I think that My xbox was close to going on strike afterjust the first day. The Formula one also started , so despite the holidays, I was up at silly O'clock to watch it on TV :D
The Easter weekend came, and I had been invited to go to stay with a teacher, so that I could experience a "German Easter"
On Good Friday, we woke up to some very unwelcome weather. It had been snowing. Opening the window was a stupid idea, because as soon as you did, your nose fell off with how cold it was. Freezing.
Anyway, we drove for about 40 mins in total through some really nice German countryside, seeing all of the surrounding Villages until we got to a car park. We were meant to walk for 3 hours, but weather had prevented that. so instead, we walked for an hour.. to a PUB!
We had a few drinks there, and then walked back. The pub was in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere, but I was informed that on a hot day, its heaving.. fine! but it was dead when we were there
Once we Walked Back, we went up the hill to a restaurant, Pub, youth hostel combo that was just off the road. I expected it to be dead - good friday, up a snowy hill and off the main road.. WRONG! it was brimming with people!
There, we had something to eat and Beer.. lots and lots of beer. and then some more. We stayed overnight there and had breakfast. It was a great social night, and I got to practice the art of speaking a foreign language when hammered! VERY acquired Skill!
When we woke up, which, after the amount of beer I had drunk, anytime was going to be too early. Whoever had build the place needed to sort their act out because on waking up, i notice that the door (and everything else in the room) was moving.. although.. that MAY have been the beer.. I dunno.
However.. once it had stopped spinning.. this was the view...
anyway.. we gingerly got home and I was dropped off at my flat for a few hours, to get a shower and sort some clothes out. I was then picked up and was taken to this teacher house for the Saturday night and Sunday.
Saturday night was an insight. The amount of work that the Germans put into their Easter is amazing... It is all about the children and pretty much on Par with Christmas.
First, they spend hours colouring Eggs. with Die.. its is a painstaking event that requires a woman. Nothing Sexist, but we were two blokes, and ours were.. frankly, Crap. This teacher's Sisters' on the other hand.. well.. she must have had a slave or an egg-painting machine somewhere.. we managed to do 6 shitty ones.. she had 40.. and they were amazing!
Anyway, Easter Sunday in Germany is a very religious affiir, so whilst the Teacher took his son to church in the morning, I slept! once back, I was on child distracting duty.. whilst the eggs that we had coloured, as well as chocolate and everything else was hidden in the garden.
I saw a car, and as a joke asked: "does the easter bunny come in the car?" I was told, by a 5 year old, that I am totally stupid and he obviously hops..
Burn
The kids hunted for the eggs, and checked and checked again, and after an hour.. it was time to go inside for dinner.. This was chaos.. but that good type of chaos that you love to be involved in. Children being children, who also get Presents for Easter, so they are opening them and enjoying playing with their new toys. We had dinner, which was lovely. Then, Easter was over
A few days went by, and one of my Best friends came over. Not the Sunderland one, but the Scotland one! :D Once again,we did all of the tourist-y things.. we went to Frankfurt, ate German food and.. drank beer! I hadn't seen him for over 3 years, but it was amazing how easy it was to talk. Enough to discuss, and really, like we had never been apart ! Just how it should be !
Once he had gone, It was back to School. we have been back 2 weeks now, and its again, Business as Usual.
I think you are sufficiently bored! till next time! :D
Exam Season has just finished here in Germany. It has been a long time coming for the students, who by the end really just wanted to sit their Exam.
Pre-exam season here is strange. Teachers are asking the students what they want to do. We would never have this in England, we would be told that we had to learn Grammar for the 200th time, and revise topics and stuff..
Im absolutely certain that one class I had, was helped by my idea of forced revision... We watched a movie! :P
Emperor's New Groove!
I was invited to go and see the Exam questions during the exam. This confused me from the off, because teachers are not allowed in out exams in the UK. Here, there are no exam invigilators, the teacher do it. So I guess it must be ok for me!
The English questions were ok. out of the 3, I would have chosen the second set, but there were some that chose other ones too! (great for me, who has to mark some of them - its not as boring! :P)
I walked into the exam, and was baffled totally...
The exams are about 4 hours long- that may be crucial, before we get started!
Each student has their own table.
They all bring their own entire picnic of goodies and things to eat and drink. Cakes, Sweets, Fruit, Coke, Water.. everything.They just sit, do the exam and munch away! IN the UK, we have to take the label off the bottle of water we are allowed!! Here, they just eat!
Second, they are very allowed to get up and strut around the room. They have access to information which is at the front, so they are up, and off to go and have a look! We would be killed for this!
AND - they can go to the toilet alone! we have some creepy 70 year old guy follow us! but these guys here just get up and they are off!!! (so, arrange to meet people! its aparantly, very easy! :P)
Its now Easter Holidays. 2 friends are heading to Germany right now. One comes today and will be here for a fair while, and the other comes on the 4th and is visiting me for a few days! :D I plan to see the other one at some point in May: He is living in Koblenz!
Right. I think its best to do a better one later, when I have more to say!
After Easter! :D
Today, I looked in my diary at school.
I do it every day, so that I can write down what I have done with each class and what we are doing next lesson.
I love my diary, it keeps me organised, and it also helps me to remember what I have done whilst I have been here!
It usually brings good news: Things that I look forward to and things that I have thoroughly enjoyed in the months that I have now spend here.
However, today, It only brought bad news..
Its only 2 weeks until Easter. This news is so bad, that the start of the F1 season in 10 days, was scarcely a consolation.
To understand why this is such bad news, you will need to know that my last day at work here in Germany, is the 30th May. This means that from the start of the Easter Holidays, I only have 70 days left in Germany and, due to the holidays, only 41 days left in school, after taking away the weekends and Fridays that I don't work.
It got me thinking. I have spent a long time here, doing a job I really enjoy in a country I will never forget, in a town that will always be special to me and with people that I hope I will never lose contact with.
This kinda makes this the most relevant blog post for anyone who is planning year abroad.
I can remember March last year. I was in Sunderland, going to lectures and trying my best to get as much information as I could about this year abroad.
I can remember even more prominently, June onwards, when I really had to plan this trip. I was stressed out and at one point, simply declared that I wasn't going to do it, specifically using the Facebook status
"This trip to Germany can fuck off now"
As im sure you can guess. I feel pretty stupid for putting that right now.
I began to realise, that Germany has been good to me, and not just from an educational point of view.
Linguistically , it has been amazing. My German has come on 10 fold and I really enjoy speaking German in Germany. Knowing that I rely on it forces me to speak it, because there are times that you simply don't have the option to speak English and THAT is how you learn
In terms of Experience; It really has provided. I have lived by myself now for a fair few months. It is great at times. Peace, quite and the ability to have thing how you want, when you want and what you want is great. It gives some freedom in the sense that there is no one here to moan If I don't tidy up, forget to turn the light off, or don't put my mug in the wash. I have learned to manage without an Oven, and with only basic cooking utensils and managing a budget for food and I have very much learnt to manage money for my rent.
The negative side to this , is that living alone is precisely that. Alone. The silence is, at times, unbearable and I really feel for my best mate at home who can, at times be relentlessly pestered by me - apologies mate!
but i suppose it brings out the creativity in you! its amazing how exciting German grammar can be when you are bored!
Aside from that, this year has pretty much set my future in stone. I now cannot wait to be a teacher, and the experience I have gained will be invaluable when applying for my PGCE. I love this job. yes, i moan at times about the early mornings and suchlike... but I think ill find, that its what 'working' is all about!!
And then, there is the.. well... its kinda.. basically,
Its everything I have seen, Everything I have done, Everything I have heard, Everything I have tasted, Everything I have felt and Everything I have said.. Germany has really provided this year, and im sure that the last 70 days will keep on giving it. Nothing will rival this, and it have been made all the more special when I think that I was about to give up on it a few weeks before I came here.
Above all, the people here that I have met, whether teacher, Student, fellow Fremdsprachenassistent or just that man that says hello to me every single morning - they have made it for me..
Im not going to say my thank-yous yet. I do still have a few weeks left, but looking through that diary today has really been a hit home.
If you are a Language student, im sure that you can see how fantastic a year abroad can be. The last few posts I put on here will be the ones for you guys.. as well as the usual antics! :P
Faschings.. Its a celebration that happens every year in Germany. It is to say goodbye to the cold dark winter (and take it from me.. it was very dark and stupidly cold at times) and to welcome in the Spring.
If someone told you that, without knowing what goes in during 'Faschings' im sure there are many ways you could think of to celebrate this period in the year.
I first though, of maybe a dinner with the family, a firework display or even..a day of work!
The last one was about the closest I got.We did get a day off school (some people even got 2!) and why did we get monday off school..
so that we could all go an be part of a parade! (if you didn't get that... you must be feeling pretty stupid!)
Yes. Faschings happens ever year here (fitting, as so does spring) The Germans welcome Spring with parades, loud music, dancing, sweets , days off work, and of course.. Beer!!
There are some rules, that all those going must (and it is a must) abide by.
1) be horrendously drunk.. if you are not drunk.. you will suffer the same issue as I did (which I will clear up later)
2) though you may be drunk.. drink more.. because this will clearly make things better
3) yell "HELAU" to everyone you see.. no matter what they may be doing
4) dance in the middle of the road
5) find the most stupid costume you can.. something that you wouldn't be seen dead in.. and wear it
Yes.. you have to do these things.. and , for someone who had never heard of it before January (bad really!) It was completely bizarre.
I live :
- 20 minutes from Fulda
- 60 minutes from Frankfurt
- 90 minutes from Mainz (the biggest Faschings in Germany)
Where.. with all of these places did I decide to go.. I hear you ask
Steinau -_-
Yes.. Steinau.. located just 10 minutes away from my town. I went to Steinau.. and encountered many of my students in states that I would never usually see them in.. (that is a nice way of saying that they were drunk!)
I encountered English students dressed as Pirates, Mexicans, police officers and everything in between.. in the UK.. this would be way to over the top..
Well the parade was great. It basically consists of local groups of ... things.. who have mobbed local farmers for the use of a tractor and trailer.. they then proceed to choose a theme, and decorate the trailer as such. They then attach speakers and play VERY cheesy music through it whilst driving through the center of some town whilst lobbing sweets and various other things at small and unsuspecting children - probably dressed as a gorilla or something.
Although strange.. it is in fact a really good time, and for families it must be great. It is however odd.. watching children dressed as an Argos catalogue or whatever scurrying along the floor picking up sweets - especially when I bet any amount of money that for the rest of the year, the parents tell their kids off for it!! I took plenty of pics too...
Ill add pics soon.. please check back!! :D
After all of this.. one of the colleagues that I was with decided that it was time for what he referred to as "kaltentanz" ( he was already sloshed.. so he could have meant anything) we were then frogmarched (awkward word? being in Germany?? im gonna use it..) to a square in front of the main castle in Steinau.
This square is usually.. a really nice place to be.. especially when the sun is out and there are very few people. there is a lovely castle, its very quiet and you can take your time time appreciate the lovely and historical surrounding of the place where the brothers Grimm (as in the load of stories) were born and grew up.
This time.. I arrived to what could only be called "alcohol-related devastation"
There was a whole Shrewdness (that's the collective noun usually used for Apes) of individuals of all ages who were hammered.. and were, upon my arrival.. going GANGNAM STYLE... my life has taken me in some odd directions.. but this was well up there...
As I said before.. I was reasonably sober. I had drunk.. but was still in the frame of mind to think logically.. and walk in a straight line - as well as be able to tell what imbeciles everyone else looked.
I really wanted to have a drink.. but I had been (and still was at the time) full of cold. Through many reasons.. my body does not react well to having a cold (and one of those reasons is not that I am a bloke!., well ok it is.. but not the main reason..)
I decided that it was time to take stock of the situation.
I was in Steinau, dressed as a robber, in the middle of Hessen, Germany. I was with about 1000 other german people who were very drunk, attempting to do Gangnam style with varying amounts of success, shivering so much that the British thought I was trying to send Morse code and It was beginning to go dark. I had also just had an encounter with a gorilla that was slightly too close for comfort.
I decided, that due to the lack of a coffee stand, It was time to go. Had there had been coffee.. i would have stayed.. but the cold was pretty dire at this point.. and Beer was not going to help that.. no matter how much I had. I had kinda hoped to stay longer.. but not in that frame of mind..
So .. I boarded the next train home (still dressed as a robber!) and went back to the Flat
I will celebrate Faschings properly at some point.. it is now on my bucket list.. but this year was not the year..
So first, I guess I have to apologies that I haven't posed for a while. I have been busy, and it has taken a while to find the time to post anything!
Once again, we have snow! That is all im saying on that.. cause im sure its as boring for you ho hear about as it is for me to have here!
I was in Sunderland last week for a multitude of reasons ! Great weekend , so cheers mate! and thanks for your help!
Work has been the usual. It was very easy to come back after Christmas, settling into the routine like it was only a weekend that I was away for, and although we have now started the second "Halb Jahr" or half year, my timetable is unchanged, so I don't have to learn new names or have to introduce myself again!
The other weekend, I was in Gelnhausen. Its only a 20 minute ride on the train away, but its a nice sized town with some good things to see
Church Lit up at night
Main square
Gelnhausen was a good day trip. not to tiring and nice to see the other Language Assistants. we had some nice food and managed to catch up after the Christmas Holidays. and not too expensive either!! there was, of course also the token beer! :D
Few weeks later, I went for a night out in a suburb of Frankfurt called Groß-Gerau. Interesting night! very different to a night in Schlüchtern. They gave you cards and everything was paid for on that, afterwards, you paid at the door when you left!! DANGEROUS!! luckily, it only came to 15 Euros.
I have also planned to go to Mainz for the festival Season. There will be a post on that soon, which is why this is so short!
Christmas this year was very interesting.. I spent plenty of time away from home, seeing my mates, my dad and stepmum and the rest of the family too.. so all was good!!
I am now back in Germany.. and - apart from everyone wishing me a "Happy New Year!" , its pretty much like I have never really been away! The town's Christmas Decorations are gone, the sales are over and the only real sign that it is (near) Christmas is that there is a slight dusting of snow on the floor right now.
This makes me realise that I was actually really comfortable here.. I put that partially down to the people of the school and local area.. but it was really nice to come back and slip in as if nothing had happened.
The three weeks of Christmas flew by in one respect, and dragged in another. I was really happy to be going home for so many reasons. The break was great and the lie ins were awesome! I managed to see most of the family and even travel to London to see (one of my two) best mate(s) for new years Eve! it was the first time for a few years that I didn't work for it ! so I could also afford the odd drink!
The Christmas period was typical. .. the usual stuff that every family tends to do (and some things that other families just don't do.. especially this year...) and it as the same in that we got all excited for something that is the same every time!!
It was the first Christmas that I noticed the change since turning 18..and not being a kid anymore.
Christmas eve was spent in the Indian - very sophisticated- with Prosecco and curry!
the run up to me coming back to Germany was slightly rocky.. I had other things on that were unavoidable and due to this, I didn't actually manage to pack properly.. and - I would say that the two things I forgot were some of the most important .. like... towels.. and my bed sheets.. dammit!!
The day that I was flying came and I was waiting at the door like a dog for my dad to pick me up.. it was definitly time to get back to what has now become normality with some great colleges and some great friends now too! I enjoyed seeing everyone.. but the time to go back was the right time!!
I am now here till may.. I may have the odd adventure here and there.. but only the one planned so far.. .. I cant see it being difficult to stay here for a solid 5 months..
sorry that this entry is a tad on the "mopey Christmas" side and very little to do with my "adventures in germany" but , I thought it was time for an update.. and to let you all know that I am enjoying this year abroad so much, that I was actually desperate to come back !!
Home. There are lots of different definitions of it, but I usually use the on that is "Wherever you feel at home",
I have a few places that I consider Home. Sunderland is my second Home. I have made some amazing mares there.
but the other one is that place I grew up in. Where my parents are. and , In less than 75 hours. That is exactly where I will be!
I had a small taste of it last weekend, I flew to Sunderland to see one of the two people I call my "Best Mates" . The weekend was one I will never forget for a lot of reasons. But one of the main reasons was the sheer Horror that I had with Public Transport.
Being clever, I decided to choose the cheapest. This was with KLM and it was from Frankfurt to Newcastle with a change of flight in Amsterdam.
As a lot of people will tell you , I plan everything down to the last second. It will be followed to this plan, and If it goes astray, then, the world may aswell end.
I knew that this was especially important here, because of the change over in Amsterdam, which I had less than an hour for.
The way there was not too bad. Big Shout out the the "best mate" I was visiting who told me to sit at the back of the plane. Cheers mare ! We were swapped onto a rear- engined plane... it was awful! But , in true mate style.. he found this Hilarious!
My 'Window' is hidden.. its behind the engine... -_-
I got to Amsterdam with the constant ring of D# in my ears.. Then, I had to go for it .
- Check in to next flight
- Passport control
- Security Check
- the 7km (well, that is what it always feels like!) walk to gate D24
sorted! got to the flight in time, and made it to Sunderland.
Typical LADS weekend really:
- Beer, Steak, Football, Half of Batman (inside joke!) and buying DVDs that are on the 2 for £10 at HMV
(although, that can be baffling at times, too.. ) (another inside joke!)
I Enjoyed the weekend. Seeing my mate, and being back 'home' was night. I did speak German to people and I forgot that the cars come from the other Direction.. but apart from that.. fine!
It was on the way back.
Dear god.
I think I lost about 10 years off my like due to this trip.
Set off from Newcastle, Slightly late (don't know how, only about 4 planes go there) and Arrived in Amsterdam late too. Had 50 mins to get to my next flight...
GO!
- Check-in was terrible.. machine was very slow and took about 5 attempts -_-
- Passport control: some advice - if there are well over 500 people queuing to have their passoort checked.. maybe it worth opening a second line?? just a thought
- Security.... well.. do I have to say anything?? I chose the one queue where no matter how much they checked.. that guy still sets the scanner off.. annoying..
then.. Gate..
E89 .. I was like Basil Fawlty!
"Well, that is just perfect!"
Off I went.. and got to the plane late.. the plane held 100 poeple.. I had 99 of them starting at me..and then an announcement..
"Sorry ladies and gentlemen, we are going to be delayed slightly, as we have a passenger from Newcastle who's bag needs to be loaded on"
THAT WAS ME!
got to Frankfurt late, Schedule was Ballsed and I really needed to get home. I was pleased with KLM. None of the delays were their fault, I was late in and they waited for one passenger. I would recommend then to anyone!
I got on the train from the Airport to the main station, I got the platform and could have Waved goodbye to the driver. SHIT.. missed it..
Double Shit... Last train of the night...
triple shit.. what the hell do I do now...
see... no train.... :/
I was a minute too late.
I, being smart, went to the pub! It had Wifi and I could form a plan!
Wifi was broke.. luckily the pump wasn't - I could have drunk it dry. partially for missing the train, partially for doing that thing that Mr Bean does on "Mr Bean's Holiday" when he did the same.
Well, I had no choice, I was stuck.. I was going to spend the night there, but how and where?
there were 3 options
1- the 24hr Mcdonalds
2- sit in the station and listen to music
3- find a hostel.
I went with number 3. Reluctantly. After being in the pub it was now 1 am and the first train was at 5:26 am. But I was tired, slightly fed up, and it had begun to rain.
I found one, and got my head down for a few hours kip. Caught my first train, and managed to do a day of work too.. How.. I dunno.. well.. I do.. I had Irn Bru from the UK!
But anyway. Though my ell with public transport makes me want to walk home, My flight is at a good time, I will be on the first train I can be after work so I definitely don't miss the flight, and the flight is a direct Lufthansa flight. So - hopefully, no issues!
I cant wait to go home. There are some aspects that I can wait for - and not always the ones that are always there, but I need a break, and I need to say hello to the Family. It has been the same amount of time as it would have been at University, but taking in all that I have, from the sights, sounds and smells of Germany, to the Culture, Language and routine. I am tired. I am pleased that I had a visitor halfway through, cause It broke it up and Im always happy to see a good mate :)
I feel weird about it. Im looking forward to it (my suitcase is already packed) but I know that I could stay here If I needed to, easily. I guess after the tough weekend of transport before, and the taste of the UK.. I am pretty ready to head back to the family.
So. I hope this week goes fast, I hope that I can get home and Enjoy a beer with my dad and see my brothers again. I have a small trip planned for Xmas, but the plans need to be finalized there.
I don't know when this will next be updated.. but If I don't see you, or write another one... then Have a good Christmas.. and all the best, for 2013
2013 is set to bring a lot. F1, more Germany, the start of my final Uni year and some other stuff that I am very excited about too. It is gonna be hard at times.. but - if its easy, where is the point?
till next time!
Its the start of a 365 page book.. When you write it, make it a good one...
I have been told since before I got here, that Germany gets snow.
The UK gets snow... in some places quite a lot.
Here in Hessen, The snow is Very unpredictable. IM pretty sure that the weather has been right every time in that they forecast it. But wrong in the amount that comes down.
Last week, It began to snow on Saturday night. It was about 11PM, and I was just getting ready to go to bed when I noticed it. I wasn't fussed really Im kinda used to what we have in the UK, where it soon melts, and even if it did come down a fair bit, I knew that when I woke up, it was going to be Sunday, so there would be no point in going anywhere anyway.
well, for some unknown reason, I woke up at about 4:30 am. It takes effort for me to look out the window, as the only window I really have is in the roof and no where near the Bed.
I looked out the window. It reminded me that it had snowed (you know that stage where you are awake but your eyes don't work? well.. that!)
It was about 3 minutes later , after I had got back into bed, that I decided to have another look. My eyes were working, and they could CLEARLY see that we had had about 3 inches. Possible the third most snow I have ever seen, after Sunderland in first year Uni in second, but being *slightly* beaten by the time I was in Finland in December.
There was a lot and for the first time in a while, I was excited by the snow. So excited that I decided , whilst sober!, to go outside and draw boobs in the snow..
I am an Adult by the way....
This is , obviously, a Very adult thing to do. What would have been more adult, would have been to rub it out...
The tree in Schlüchtern
after the excitement, I went back to bed
between 4:30am and 12PM, it must have snowed more. The boobs were not gone, but emphasized...., and my little town was in a completely different light.. It was covered in snow!
I don't do mornings, I barely do the daytime and only really come into my own during the evening, so (despite my previous adventure outside) I was not getting up, getting dressed straight away, and going to build a snowman! NO!
I had a cuppa, worked out hoe cold it was, and then decided to go out. Germany made this decision for me.
If this was the UK, I would not be going out to take pictures. I would be staying in, hugging the radiator, hands firmly around the Xbox controller and a constant supply of Tea!
It was, however, very nice. The snow was deep in places, looked great on what it had landed on and made everything look nice and wintery.
Trees across the road from my flat
The Small garden near my flat
It was nice and there is some still here too! Though I will admit that I am slightly worried, as I have a flight to catch in a few weeks, with more forecast!
But it has been cold for the last few weeks now.. you can feel it at night when you have to put the radiator up a few clicks. It is also proven when you leave your window open over night and wake up to this!
an Icicle on my window
Germany deals well though. Everyone has to have winter tires by law, so there there are fewer crashes . The snowploughs are out as soon as the snow hits the floor, gritting and, well.. ploughing and there is a mini tractor that does the same for the paths too.. so no one is caught out!
the trains all still ran, and there were no more delays or cancellations at Frankfurt airport than usual, apart form to the airports that couldn't cope! (I am checking, yes!) basically they cope.. and (in another area) beat the UK. I have seen messages on Facebook and twitter about it.. here - the school was open, and I have been told that when they got 8 inches 3 years ago, it stayed open too! No lie in for me, but a serious achievement!
The little Tractor :D
That is all about the Snow for now. More about Germany and the run up to Christmas. Well, it is Christmas market time and there is currently one in Schlüchtern. It isn't very big, so I have decided to miss it for now, Just because I am off to one in Bayern tomorrow! So 2 new experiences there (see previous blog!) I'll be taking the camera and getting some snaps!
The Lights are also going up in Schlüchtern. It looks nice! nothing too major..
Christmas Lights in Schlüchtern
It is also the time when the staff room at work begins to smell of homemade Christmas Biscuits and Cake. I was even given some , very generously, by some Members of staff, which were awesome!
I have managed to get some in Tegut to take home with me soon.. I just hope I don't eat them!
Also, last Wednesday, I went to Fulda with 150 other students and Staff from work to see a performance in English! it was good! there were a few acting points, but considering what they had done with the few props and things that they has it was good. The new head of English asked me if I understood everything as a joke, to which my reply was "there are a few words I don't understand!" ... I guess you had to be there! Even still. Some of the students that I teacher were therefrom class 9. Everyone else there was yr 11,12 and 13. They said that they understood everything, so Im proud of you class 9!
Anyway, here are some more snowy pics for you to enjoy!
catch you soon!
This may turn out to be quiet annoying for some people, if it does - well tough... :P
This month has been Great. It is now the last weekend in November and in total, I have racked up nearly 90 nights under German Stars - in fact Monday will be my 3rd complete month here..
The fact that is is November, means a few things right now.
1) This is all going WAY too quickly! Christmas is , annoyingly, the half way point of this. Im pretty shocked at how quickly the time is going, and and how Christmas symbolizes that , although 4 months is a long time - Don't really have all that Much time left!
2) This is pretty important. In fact, apart from only about 3 other things in my life (and food and sleep come below this) This is the final F1 weekend of the season.
From this moment onward, my weekends are empty, bare and spent looking forward to March 17th , when it all starts again! Some people do not understand how I can be so obsessed with the F1, and how I plan weekends around it. Well - I argue the same for football, or whatever you guys like. I don't know what it is , but whatever it is - I love it!
Im posting this now, before the qualifying on the Saturday, because this season can go 2 ways. One guy I want to win, and the other I would rather see his car bogged-down in a gravel trap. if it goes that way, you'll hear from me again, and if it doesn't - Then I wish you all a happy Christmas - for all until 2015!
Im also excited about march for another reason - It is under wraps a bit at the moment - Once confirmed, THEN I will reveal all! :D
3) Germany is preparing for Christmas.
These are some comparisons to the way that Germany prepares for Xmas, against the UK
There are some lessons for the UK here... which include..
- The coke advert DOES NOT meant the start of Christmas, nor should seeing it make the top 10 on twitter.. Its an advert - every other advert annoys you!
Clearly, I am a pro a Photoshop
- Christmas songs - If it is not Christmas, don't play them - Germany is saving my sanity in that respect
- Christmas lights - your house is not meant to attract the attention of other planets it, therefore, does not need to have enough bulbs to keep a large block of flats lit up for 3 years. a few, tasteful lights will be fine - even then, you do not need to put the up in October
- Though, yes, this is a busy period in the shops - you do not need to queue outside of the shop, nor when you are in the shop, must you act like a TOTAL tit! There is no pushing, no fighting and you can breathe. Nor do you go into a shop with 400 customers and only 3 members of staff on duty..
These are just a few things... UK - this is how Christmas should be ... 'Tis the season to be Jolly!! NOT Jolly pissed off!!
A generic Christmas Market Picture
As part of the Christmas preparations, I have been asked to go to a Christmas Market in Bayern (Bavaria) on December 9th. Im looking forward to it - and if you are some of the (Very) few people I but Christmas presents for - it could be that you end up with something very German and bought from this market. Even still - you will be able to spot the tourist at 20 paces - because it will be me , with my camera asking completely stupid questions.
The other thing about this time of year is that is is now the 24/11/12. This means that in 28 days.. I go home. Im not desperate to , far from it. In fact I think that i could easily spend Christmas in Germany, given how nice everyone is. However, there are some things that I am beginning to , not miss as such, but would love to be re-acquainted with again. some things are a bit sad - Irn Bru, My xbox and a TV that talks to me in English would be lovely! but there are the other things too.
I miss this stuff!
Family are in short supply in Germany. They annoy me at times, but they are almost contracted to do that - but no one understands you better than your family. Also, My dads sense of humor is desperately needed. I usually refer to his thoughts as "dads 'professional' opinion" He always has one - and the way he conveys is is fantastic. my dad also is the type of bloke that doesn't need to SAY anything.. the face usually says it all!
My flight is on the 20th December. This is to Manchester from Frankfurt, and it was pretty cheap because I took my dads advice and booked early. When I booked it - I was going to book for the Friday, but chose not to. This was because of something I saw on the website I used to book them. I thought that it was so fantastic, that I was going to take their advice and run with it
"please note - some flights on 21/12/12 may not fly, due to the supposed 'end of the world'"
It was a Joke, the website was clearly taking the mick, but I thought that it was brilliant! So I booked my flights earlier.
Anyway, having explained a few things, I may as well let you know what I have been up to.
Yesterday, I went to Frankfurt and met up with the 'Hessen Mannschaft' which are the other language assistants that are based in Hessen. we had a few drinks, a good laugh and it was great fun! more to the point, I didn't miss my stop, after - Once again - falling asleep on the train. Again though, I payed for a ticket and it wasn't checked. I have considered not paying -but that is tempting fate! I have also been invited to go to a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in Fulda! So - im off to go and see a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in Fulda. looking forward to it actually. Its another chance for me to feel cultured!
Ill check in again sometime soon.. I think December is going to be busy!
ODDLY - half way through this the formatting changes... I dont know why and cant be bothered to change it...and.. In a brief moment of being pathetic, I would like to say before I start, that after having a mate over for just a few days the other week.. It made me realise how BORING living by yourself can be.. ! so, if you ever want to come back mate? :D Well, I have decided that I am going to do a post on the reason I am here : "To improve my language skills and to gain necessary cultural experience by living in the foreign country" according to my module guide! I have (luckily) begun to dream in German now... which must be good... I still get people in school saying "you speak English all the time" well yes - Im here to teach it - to students and the teachers - so I kinda have to -But the rules are 1) In school - English with the students all the time, unless necessary clarification is needed... (its never necessary) 2) After school, German with the students, unless they speak in English first - then they have decided to have that conversation in English it is therefore their fault if it becomes difficult... they had the chance! 3) Teachers - either or, depending on the situation - if its general chat, German - complaining about other staff or students, English ! 4) German all the time to non-school Folk.. don't assume that this shopkeeper can speak English.. go for German every time (excluding the Irish bar!)
I guess that this will mean, that to certain colleges, I only speak English but tough!! Im here to help them too! :D To my wonderful students who read this... forget number 2 please.. if i know you have caught on to this you will get English 24/7!! :D Anyway!.. I have been here now long enough I think to have enough experience to deal with it, so here goes. The Culture During our second year at Uni, we had a module (MFL111) which I know that all Sunderland students are now sniggering at, that was supposed to prepare us for coming abroad, and dealing with different situations that may arise some of which were: - going to a party - etiquette, should I take something and how long should I stay for - out and about - dark places, new people and whole new surroundings - what is that? - discovering the differences and how to deal with them. well.. I paid £3320 for my tuition last year, and did 7 modules. that makes £474.28 per module. MFL was a waste of £474. (there were some useful aspects, hence, not a waste of 28p)
We are all put together, German, French and Spanish, so it would be tough to do, but this would have been SO much better if they had brought a former Erasmus student from each language to tell us what they found shocking/ hard/ new/ different. It meant that I was not prepared for some things in Germany, and I have had to adjust myself to certain things.
- Germans are really direct. There is no beating around the bush like in English. They are not rude with it, just to the point! - Sorry is not said at every slight inconvenience, whether it was you or someone else that caused it - "danke" (thank you) is not used as often. basically, you only use it when someone has gone really out of their way for you, and not moved their trolley so you can get passed! - The word 'sofort' (immediately) that stereotype about it - its true.. sofort means sofort! but there are other things too..
- Shopping - if you want pickled stuff, you are in luck! if you are looking for a 13 min microwavable lasagne for one... tough luck.. but also, in Germany, shopping is done by type of food... meat from the butcher, break from the baker etc etc so you cant just nip to one shop!! also DON'T FORGET YOUR BAGS!! only very few places offer plastic bags, and the cheapest I have seen are 19 cent paper ones
I Love tegut...
- to further that note - shop etiquette. "Schonen Tag noch" or 'have a nice day' is said really often.. reply "ebenso" or "gleichweis" (likeways, or back atcha!) because that's the thing to do! and not doing it appears really rude.. you can see it on people's faces if someone doesn't say it! - saying Hello... if you read my post about the German Health system (opens new window) then you will get a good sense of how that works through an emphasised point of view.. but also see the point I make about people saying 'hello' - but its not just at the doctors.. its everywhere! pizza shops.. wherever.. people walk in an announce themselves with a "hallo" once place I went the other day - the person didn't get a response the 1st time, so cleared their throat and said it again, louder. to get a response! - Sarcasm... well... when on form, I can be VERY sarcastic.. this should only be done with people who have spent time in the UK.. otherwise, they are likely to take you seriously.. because everyone is direct I was joking the other day saying that if my students spoke German, then I would throw them out the window.. she then asked me "is that allowed?" -_- the other major thing.. is this 'du' and 'Sie' thing, Both ways of saying 'you', but one of them is formal... whoever invented that needs to be strung up! For person who's mother tongue only has one form, this gets confusing.. I didn't use the 'sie' form the other day in a shop (I was very tired, and not feeling 100% -better now though, thanks for the concern) and I was treated like I had just shit in their kettle.. I didn't realise it at the time... but I do now. I realise that it is like me going up to a person in Tescos and saying "you, chips, where, now?" but I didn't at the time realise the gravity of it.. and now - im over using it great!
my last major point for now.. is recycling. Pfand is amazing.. (watch the format change!...)
basically, a bottle of coke or whatever will have a price show like this €1,00 + 0,25 Pfand. you pay a total of €1.25 at the till. BUT when you take it to a recycling place, you get the 0,25 back, to encourage plastic bottle recycling!
a machine to collect your 'Pfand' back
This applies to plastic (and I think glass) bottles...
BUT.. you also have to sort out your rubbish int bins, like the UK..
oh dear.. its even coloured to help me!
however.. here .. is it treated almost like a life and death situation..
sort them wrong and suffer the wrath!! I have obviously been doing it a few weeks now.. and all of a sudden, a very stern notice has appeared on the door to the bins telling us how to do it!
I think its aimed at me!
This is a long one eh? Now the language.. There will be another blog on both of these topics, im sure, so this one is about the one thing I find most stark ENGLISH Centuries ago, English was made.. not the most creative language.. most of it was stolen from other people.. but , now, it appears that the other countries are taking stuff back.
there are so many words that have been derived from English that know about.. most are technology or new advancements.. but they even have phrases that they use..
for example
Ich werde es googlen - im going to Google it Ich habe es gegoogled - I googled it
Man muss das im Facebook liken - you need to like that on facebook dass habe ich geliked - I liked it
I mean really - geliked? that is taking an English verb and making it VERY German, grammatically! other words - geaddet (added) / gestalked ( I mean c'mon!)
but there are loads - some can be found here (new window) My favourite English word made German is angepissed - to be pissed off
du siehst ein bisschen angepissed aus - you look pissed off!!
but also phrases...
Germans will actually say
"you don't Say" as a phrase! as a response to something shocking.. someone used it to me (Jerome!) and I was like.. OK English now!!.. He was totally baffled... because Germans use it!!
The video below below is in German and English combined (called Denglisch)
It doesn't matter if you don't understand as an English person... because to be fair, you will see how many English words and phrases there are! some words have been changed to make them conform with german grammar, but when you hear them, you will know which ones?
I will warn you - the song is average, but may get stuck in your head This is called 'Denglisch' by a band called 'The Wise Guys'... they use no instruments, so everything you hear is done by mouth
So.. ill put another language and culture blog up sometime.. but now yet eh? I think it will be about German TV - that is 2 birds, one stone!
